Nanyang 1931: From piglets to giants

Chapter 247 Military, Police, and Special Agents: Extraordinary Times Require Extraordinary Measures
Most people in the Southern Association for Regional Cooperation were very unhappy about Zheng Yi's new policies as soon as he returned, but no one would say it out loud.

After all, it is now after World War II, and the wind of democracy has blown all over the world. Many people would think that the Nanmen model is actually a manifestation of democracy. However, what Zheng Yi is doing now is actually reversing history. Isn't he clearly a reactionary?

They say this isn't dictatorship, but what's the difference between this and dictatorship? They say this is for the good of SAARC, but who can really say what's truly for the good of SAARC?
In the final analysis, people all over the world were quite confused in this era, especially the Chinese. You must know that before the Anti-Japanese War, there were indeed many knowledgeable people who believed that China must learn from the United States and establish a federal system, and separate each province into a state, in order to become prosperous and strong.

Many people in this era truly believe that the more decentralized power is, the better it is for the country and the people.

Taking power away from those in power has almost always resulted in bloodshed, both in ancient and modern times, both in China and abroad. Now in the Southern Alliance, after Tan Kah Kee took the lead in standing up to support Zheng Yi, the major chambers of commerce under him have basically lost the ability to fight Zheng Yi.

So no one dared to oppose him openly, but Zheng Yi knew better than anyone that these people below would definitely pretend to obey his institutional reforms but secretly disobey him, and various acts of non-cooperation and sabotage were inevitable.

After all, the Southern Association for Regional Cooperation is not a powerful organization, and Zheng Yi is not a king-like figure.

According to Zheng Yi's idea, within five years, he would be satisfied if his advisory group and secretariat could basically implement his policies smoothly and significantly weaken the independence of major chambers of commerce.

If he wants to completely suppress the influence of the major chambers of commerce in the Southern Alliance and make them lose the ability to check and balance him, it will probably take at least 20 to 30 years.

To put it bluntly, this entire generation has no hope and can only rely on the next generation.

The current problem, after all, lies in the word "execution".

That night, Zheng Yi took the initiative to go to Tan Kah Kee's office and find him.

Chen Jiageng seemed to know that Zheng Yi would come to see him tonight, so he specially ordered someone to prepare Zheng Yi's favorite hot pot, which was fish slices.

"Mr. Zheng, you've arrived just in time. Haven't eaten yet? Come and try this. This is a grouper I caught myself yesterday when I was out at sea. I was lucky enough to do it myself. Let's see how it tastes."

On the desk, there was a completely transparent glass pot filled with clear water, which was bubbling under the heating of the induction cooker below.

Zheng Yi was stunned. "Induction cooker? Developed successfully? Why didn't you tell me?"

Tan Kah Kee: "You completed the research last week while you were still in Japan. You were so busy, I guess Xiaowu didn't dare to bother you with such a small matter. He just came back and has to carry out domestic reforms. How could he have the time and energy to care about such a trivial matter?"

Zheng Yi: "A small matter? Haha, this is not a small matter."

The principle of an induction cooker is relatively simple, which is electromagnetic induction. Zheng Yi also remembered this thing, so he told Li Xiaowu and Wu Wenhao about the principle and design ideas of this thing, and asked them to organize scientists and engineers to study it.

That was after the war, and it didn't take that long before we saw the finished product.

"They just made a few test pieces and sent them to us to be used as guinea pigs."

"Yeah."

The principle of electromagnetic induction is relatively simple, and the difficulty in manufacturing an induction cooker lies mainly in materials science. In fact, to put it bluntly, this is an application of plastic. After Zheng Yi gave the design ideas, it did not require any great scientists to guide it.

The engineers of Taiyou Machinery alone were able to successfully create this thing.

Although it is not a very remarkable invention, except for the design idea, it is really something that Taiyou Machinery created from scratch.

This shows that Taiyou Machinery is now getting better and can finally stand on its own. For a moment, Zheng Yi couldn't help but feel very relieved.

Of course, Taiyou Machinery has now become an international company. Many of its engineers are from Europe, especially Germany. After World War II, Europe was almost destroyed, and there were many engineers who could not find jobs, especially in Germany. Professor-level scientists even had no food to eat.

Long before the official end of World War II, Zheng Yi led a group of South Asian business groups to Europe to recruit engineers. Even now, Li Xiaowu basically flies to Germany once every one or two months, mainly to recruit people. They already have a branch there.

After sitting down, Zheng Yi picked up the chopsticks and dipped a piece of fish fillet in clean water for a few seconds. He ate it with the prepared sauce and some chopped green onions. The plump fish meat was chewy, tender and delicious.

He laughed and said, "I've been so busy these past few days that I barely even have time to eat fish, yet you actually still have the energy to go fishing. You, as mayor, are doing a very leisurely job."

Tan Kah Kee: "Haha, there are more than 20 million Chinese in Nanyang. If you include the foreign population, the number may exceed 100 million. Such a heavy burden is on your shoulders, so naturally you have to be busy. In the entire Nanyang Alliance, only you, Mr. Zheng, can shoulder such a heavy burden and help these 20 million of us, who are rootless and floating here, to get better and better."

Zheng Yi: "Thank you so much for what happened at the meeting today."

Tan Kah Kee said nonchalantly, "What is there to thank me for? You asked me to be the president of the Fujian Chamber of Commerce because you trust me. I just want to lead our Fujian compatriots to gain a foothold in Southeast Asia as much as possible."

"Your abilities are far greater than mine, and you can lead the Nanyang Chinese better than I can. Besides, aren't you also a Fujianese? If we disband, then we disband. I'm not really greedy for power."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yi gave a long, bitter smile, but said sincerely, "If the presidents of the major chambers of commerce in Southeast Asia could have half the vision of Mr. Chen, it would be much easier for us Southeast Asian Chinese to develop."

Tan Kah Kee: "Don't flatter me. Most of us Chinese in Nanyang are sensible and understand the overall situation. Since you took over Nanyang, everyone's life has indeed been getting better and better. We even defeated the Japanese. Hahahahaha. Recently, even in Penang, tens of thousands of Japanese women have come in. They are not expensive at all. Hahaha, you didn't see the queues."

"If it weren't for you, perhaps all of us Chinese in Southeast Asia would have already fallen victim to the Japanese invaders."

Tan Kah Kee then said to Zheng Yi seriously, "In Southeast Asia, your personal prestige is almost as great as that of the Sun God. You don't need to be so cautious. You came to me simply hoping I could help you. Simply give me your instructions. I will definitely cooperate with whatever you need."

Zheng Yi: "So you have a vision. As for prestige, how should I put it? I know I have a lot, but it's not something you can eat. Most people in this world are short-sighted. I have done well in the past ten years, but what if economic development stagnates in the next few years?"

"There's no such thing as a constantly upward trend in the economy; ups and downs are the order of the day. Right now, the war has just ended, the US is overproducing, and Europe is practically devastated. This international environment is definitely not good for an export-focused region like Nanyang."

"What's more, we are expanding so rapidly now, and various internal problems are being exposed one by one. The issue of how to get along with the indigenous peoples of Southeast Asia alone is enough to make us anxious and worried."

"Add to that the red tide, the nationalist movements of the various ethnic groups in Southeast Asia, and the British and French colonialists who have been secretly trying to sabotage us. What we're facing next is not necessarily a war, but it won't be as relentless as a world war."

"Believe it or not, the British will definitely do their best to sow discord within the SAARC, stirring up conflict between the Chinese and the indigenous peoples of Southeast Asia, as well as within the Chinese community: conflicts between the Fujianese and the Cantonese, between the Xiamenese and the Chaoshanese, between the Xinyi and Panyu peoples, and finally, between the Chinese and the Japanese."

"To be honest, I've spent almost all my money on my trip to Japan to buy a business and to build Singapore. I've even taken out a lot of loans. And for a long time to come, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation will have to rely on US loans to survive."

"You know the situation in Penang. How's our business been lately? And how about Yangon?"

Tan Kah Kee: "Ah~, the economy has been a bit bad recently. After all, the war just ended. Also, international oil prices are really too damn low right now."

Zheng Yi knew very well that the world was now in a period of economic recovery, and it would definitely be difficult for an export-oriented economy like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which relied heavily on petrochemicals as its main pillar.

It is even more difficult in Yangon because the price of steel has skyrocketed, and the textile industry is now a bit half-dead. The advantages of chemical fibers are getting lower and lower, and in cotton spinning, the advantages in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) are actually not that big, at least the Chinese in Southeast Asia do not have much advantage.

That thing is a labor-intensive industry.

In Zheng Yi's opinion, this round of economic depression would not gradually improve until around 1955, and would not enter a new round of prosperity until 1960.

In other words, the next 10-15 years for SAARC will be difficult, especially the oil price, which is too important for SAARC. If Zheng Yi himself does not do something, the next round of oil price surge will have to wait until the 70s.

There's a difference of twenty or thirty years.

Zheng Yi: "When the economy is in decline, evil spirits will naturally become active. The next series of political changes in Nanyang will inevitably further affect the economy. If the economy is in decline, will I still have the prestige I have now?"

"Haha, to be honest, being a good politician who only cares about the people is quite detrimental. I led the Nanyang Chinese through ten years of prosperity, so the people loved me. But believe it or not, if I lead them through a hardship of one year, or at most two years, some among them will definitely oppose me?"

"The British will not miss any opportunity to harm us. It is much easier to stir up trouble than to unite the people. Don't forget that there is still no universal suffrage in the SAARC."

Color revolutions are not a new thing in the 21st century. As early as the 50s, the British had already mastered this technique.

There is a major structural flaw in the economic structure of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which is the lack of rural areas to serve as economic reservoirs.

Once the economy goes into a downturn and employment problems arise, the unemployed people will have nowhere to go. To put it bluntly, they will not have the option of going home to farm.

It goes without saying that there will be people who will blame Zheng Yi's reforms, and these unemployed people will definitely go to their respective hometowns, just like the Nanyang Chinese have done for hundreds of years, and ask their hometowns and the presidents of major chambers of commerce to give them food.

If Zheng Yi puts pressure on the local chambers of commerce at this time, all kinds of trouble will definitely arise.

Zheng Yi couldn't help but think of Park Kaka again. For some reason, Zheng Yi always thought of him more and more recently.

The man who brought the Han River Miracle to South Korea and led the Korean people to prosperity with an iron fist led South Korea to twelve consecutive years of economic growth. But when the oil crisis broke out, less than two years after the hard times under the economic crisis, didn't people take to the streets to protest and demand his resignation?
Quan Xiaojiang never got a state funeral until his death.

Tan Kah Kee frowned and said, "Mr. Zheng, are you underestimating the awareness of the Chinese in Southeast Asia? In the next few years, the economy of the South Asian Association will not be very good, but this is because the overall environment of the world is like this. I don't think anyone can do better than Mr. Zheng, right?"

"I believe that there are a small number of people who are affected by their own interests, who are ignorant, or who are fools instigated by the British and French. But I believe that most people still know the good things you have done for them, Mr. Zheng."

"As for the so-called popular election, SAARC is not a state actor. Besides, everyone has different cultures and social structures. In the case of SAARC, if there really is a vote, should Malays, Indians, and Javanese be allowed to vote?"

"Even if we don't consider them, if we Chinese vote on our own, it will definitely be Fujianese voting for Fujianese, and Guangdongese voting for Guangdongese. This is the time when we should be bridging social divisions and easing social conflicts. Holding a vote at this time is playing into the British trap."

"Mr. Zheng, most people wouldn't be that stupid."

Zheng Yi: "Really? Don't overestimate the intelligence of ordinary people. Besides, one of the biggest characteristics of us overseas Chinese is political apathy. It's also part of our national character."

"When a tiny minority stirs up trouble, they often represent the whole. A small elite always represents the masses. Who do you think are the so-called minority elites in Southeast Asia? What are their interests?"

"Although most people support me, love me, and stand by me in their hearts, if it really comes down to action, do you believe they might not actually come out and support me?"

"In fact, I didn't dare let them come out. If they did, who knows how big a mess they would make? My goal is reform, not revolution. Chinese people are like this. The vast majority of them don't participate in politics. Once they do, they are likely to overturn the table."

"Don't use populism lightly, as it can easily backfire. Strictly speaking, Hirohito's use of populism to achieve political adjustments was closely related to the fact that he led Japan into such a dire strait."

In fact, as far as Zheng Yi knows, almost all politicians in the world after World War II, no matter how high their prestige, how strong their skills, or how deep their foundation, as long as they dare to achieve their political goals by inciting populism, will turn reforms into revolutions in a muddled way.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiageng couldn't help but frown, and deep down he didn't agree with Zheng Yi's words.

After all, according to Zheng Yi's statement, the people are either brainless and don't move, or if they move, they will poke a hole in the sky and there's no way to stop them. How is this possible?

But since Zheng Yi said so, and believed it, he naturally couldn't persuade him anymore. He frowned and said, "Is there anything I can do?"

"There are indeed some things that require your support. I'm thinking of... establishing a security bureau for the Southern Alliance. It might have greater authority. Can you... support me?"

Tan Kah Kee smiled and asked, "Are you going to arrest the military, police, secret agents, and special agents of the Southern Alliance?"

Zheng Yi nodded, then quickly explained, "Indeed, I'm a little worried that problems might arise within the SAARC in the next few years. Believe me, I have no interest in dictatorship. As long as we survive this period, I promise that by the 1960s at the latest, I will disband this department."

Tan Kah Kee smiled and said, "With your prestige throughout Southeast Asia, even if you want to be emperor, what's the problem? What do you need me to do?"

"With your support, it will be easy for me to do this. I plan to promote Xiaowei and set up a Security Bureau to take over all security and intelligence affairs of the Southern Alliance. At the same time, the intelligence department of Lin Shaoliang will also be merged into it."

"Besides protecting my safety and conducting external surveillance, most importantly, I hope the Security Department can deploy personnel within each major chamber of commerce."

Tan Kah Kee: "Are you planning to deploy personnel openly or covertly?"

"Both overtly and covertly, right? Hey~, I'm just afraid you'll misunderstand me. Please believe me, this isn't about maintaining my own dictatorship. I'm worried about external infiltration and the opposition of a small number of people with ulterior motives."

"One is regional rivalry, whereby the various regional parties, for the sake of their own interests, will deliberately undermine the collective interests of the entire SAARC, or deliberately undermine unity. You know, this kind of thing is really easy to ignite."

The Chinese in Southeast Asia have been living in chambers of commerce for more than a hundred years. They have been competing with each other for territory and jobs, and the hatred they have developed is not necessarily less than that between them and the ethnic minorities outside.

Even the demise of the Lan Fang Kingdom was due to infighting among Chinese people from all over the world.

Both the Dutch and the British have ample experience in instigating internal strife among the Chinese.

"Secondly, it was to monitor and manage the relationship between us Chinese and other indigenous peoples, as well as with the Japanese. When I got off the train after returning from Japan, I heard that something had happened in the Dutch East Indies, and in Alor Setar, everyone was fighting fiercely."

"Of course I know that there must be British people stirring up trouble with the Malays. In the future, the British will definitely stir up trouble with the Thais, Burmese, and Indians. This is undeniable. This is the biggest weakness of our SAARC. Any enemy with a conflict of interest with SAARC will not let this go."

"As for the Malays and Javanese, I certainly have my own ways of dealing with them. Whether it's gentle or tough, they are all means. In fact, they are not the real core of the SAARC. To be honest, I want to develop well, so I pamper them and respect them."

"If I give up economic development now and join them in promoting nationalism, why should I care if those indigenous people die? If they really come to blows with us Chinese, who will be our opponent? That's not really a big issue. After all, although those indigenous people will definitely not live as well as us Chinese, those who follow me will definitely live better than those who don't."

"However, it's easy to control the indigenous people, but it's difficult to control the Chinese. Not to mention, there are some radical Chinese in the South Asian Association for Southeast Asian Nations who are unwilling to coexist peacefully with the indigenous people of Southeast Asia. To put it bluntly, they think the Chinese have more power, more people, more money, and more guns."

"The Chinese in Southeast Asia have been bullied for so many years. Now that they have finally stood up and are in control, they want to bully others again. They have suffered enough from imperialism, and now they want to become imperialists themselves."

"Don't you see, when the Japanese ruled most of Asia, before the United States entered the war, did their people live a good life?"

"That's fine, but the key is that there will definitely be people who stand with the Dutch, British, and French, willingly serving as running dogs for Western imperialism and helping them oppress the indigenous peoples of Southeast Asia."

"But in the eyes of the natives, they don't care what kind of Chinese you are. If anything goes wrong, they blame it on the Chinese, and on me. How can I just ignore it? If I do, won't someone start to make a fuss, accusing me of siding with the natives and helping outsiders bully our own people? They'll say things like, 'It's better to fight foreign invaders than domestic slaves.'"

Zheng Yi sincerely picked up a bottle of wine and poured a glass for Mr. Chen. He said, "I need to monitor the major chambers of commerce, especially those Chinese businessmen who have close relationships with the British and Dutch. I need you to report this to me, especially those who have a certain influence on them.

"I can assure you that this is an extraordinary measure for extraordinary times. The surveillance will only last for a few years at most, and it will be removed around the mid-50s."

Zheng Yi remembered that it was only after the Second Middle East War, with the Suez Canal being returned to Egypt, that Britain completely gave up its status as the "sun never sets" country. After that, it basically stopped making trouble.

Since then, there has been relative peace around the world.

Although it will enter the Cold War narrative, except for a few hot spots, the keyword of the Cold War is cold after all, so to put it bluntly, it is not a big deal.

And objectively speaking, really objectively speaking, whether it is the Soviet Union or the United States, their moral bottom line and even the way they do things are at least not as dirty as the British (not to say that they are not dirty, but relatively not dirty).

To put it bluntly, Zheng Yi lacked trust in them.

How many of these prominent business tycoons in SAARC have no connection with the British?
The ex-wives of his brother-in-law Li Xiaoshi were all cousins ​​of the King of England!
The reason why the Nanyang Chinese had an awkward status in history and why the Malaysian Chinese Association was criticized by the grassroots people as a traitorous union was inseparable from their relationship with the British.

Many Chinese in Southeast Asia were the same as Li Xiaoshi. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, they donated money and materials without hesitation. Even people like Wang Zhaosong, such a wealthy man, sent both of his sons back to China to join the army during the war. During the Battle of Hainan, he flew to Hainan in person and formed a guerrilla force. Can you say that such people are not worthy of admiration?
However, he himself has always been a consultant of the "Chinese Consultative Bureau" in history.

That thing is much more reactionary than the Malaysian Chinese Association and has always been called the "Traitor Advisory Bureau".

To put it bluntly, these Chinese are extremely patriotic when facing the Japanese, but it may be hard to say when facing the British. Even in this time and space, when the interests of the Chinese and the British conflict, Zheng Yi believes that people like Li Xiaoshi and Wang Zhaosong will definitely stand firmly on the side of the Chinese.

But what if there is a conflict of interest between the British and the natives?

What if they help the British suppress the natives.

Most people cannot take the overall situation into consideration like Zheng Yi and focus on issues that will arise ten or even dozens of years from now.

When he went to Japan this time, there were Chinese people in the Dutch East Indies who helped the Dutch colonists suppress the rebels, which made Zheng Yi very alert.

To put it bluntly, the Javanese and Sumatran people don't matter. Zheng Yi doesn't have much interest in the Dutch East Indies. This matter itself doesn't have much impact on him, but what if one day in the future, which chamber of commerce goes to suppress the Malays?
What should he do?
Is he going to control the Chinese, or help them suppress the Malays?

Although he also knew that things like wiretapping and telegraph control were a bit excessive, it is better to take precautions before they happen. This is called being a villain first and a gentleman later. It is better to do evil things in advance than to be a good person now and then find it difficult to do good things when something big really happens.

However, any normal person would not like to be monitored, especially the presidents of the chamber of commerce. Those powerful people would not give face to anyone except Zheng Yi.

Tan Kah Kee: "Does monitoring... also include me?"

Zheng Yi thought for a moment and nodded, "You are definitely included. It's not that I don't trust you, but this matter is bound to cause dissatisfaction among everyone. If we have to do it, we must treat everyone equally. You don't want to be treated differently and have the criticism directed at you."

"Besides... I know it's a bit shameless to say this. If you can lead by example and express your support for this, then when I push it down, the opposition from below will naturally be much smaller."

Tan Kah Kee: "The Fujian Chamber of Commerce... I have already ordered its dissolution."

Zheng Yi: "Then there is also the Xiamen Chamber of Commerce. You are still the number one among all the major chambers of commerce in Southeast Asia."

Tan Kah Kee: "Hehe, isn't this a bit... too much of a bully for me, Mr. Zheng?"

Zheng Yi smiled wryly and nodded, but said nothing more. He took a big gulp of the last piece of fish in his hand, swallowed it, drank a sip of the wine on the table, and stood up and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Chen, I was indeed presumptuous. Since you don't agree, then I will think of another way."

After saying that, Zheng Yi planned to leave.

No matter what, he still respected Tan Kah Kee very much, and if he disagreed, he would not be able to take any tough measures.

"and many more."

But Chen Jiageng called him.

Tan Kah Kee: "After the war, many Chinese chose to return home. However, recently, things have become increasingly chaotic in China. War has broken out again."

Zheng Yi: "Why, are there... a large number of refugees?"

Tan Kah Kee: "So far, it seems that they cannot be called refugees, but immigrants. After all, the war has mostly broken out in the northern part of the country. But in the future, if the south is also in turmoil, it will be hard to say."

"Mr. Zheng, should we consider raising the threshold for joining the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation? Or, should we accept these expatriates from China, who may become refugees in the future?"

Zheng Yi: "That's natural. No matter what, the Chinese still need to be included. Expanding the Chinese majority within the SAARC is very important."

Tan Kah Kee: "But these newly arrived Chinese, refugees, not only are penniless, they most likely don't understand Mandarin. Fujianese don't understand Cantonese, and Guangdongese don't understand Minnan dialect. Oh, and recently there are some immigrants and refugees coming in from Zhejiang and Shandong. They understand neither Cantonese nor Minnan dialect, so there's absolutely no way for us to communicate."

"Many of them don't know how to do anything except farming. Although they are strong, there are very few jobs in SAARC that require physical strength nowadays. Even if there were, we can use Malays or even Japanese to do them."

"Mr. Zheng, do you know that outsourcing a Japanese worker only requires one-third of what a Chinese worker earns? Furthermore, Japanese workers are highly educated. Even the laborers have completed primary education, and some have even attended high school. They learn quickly and are very disciplined. They're even learning Mandarin as quickly as the newcomers."

"Tell me, what will those new arrivals rely on to survive? How will they survive? And most importantly, how will they survive those first few difficult years when they first arrive in Southeast Asia?"

Zheng Yi: "Village Party Meeting?"

Tan Kah Kee nodded upon hearing this. "The Fujian Chamber of Commerce, until its disbandment, still insisted on giving tea money to every newly arrived Fujianese. The money wasn't much, but it was at least enough for them to live in Penang, Singapore, and other places for more than a month."

"The most important thing is that we will help them find jobs. Mr. Zheng, if we consider it purely from the perspective of profit, my factory will hardly find a better job for a Fujian native than a Japanese one."

“To put it bluntly, we are all from the same hometown, and we all came here from humble beginnings. We all came from humble backgrounds, and fellow villagers are still willing to help each other. In Penang today, if there are no fellow villagers willing to support us, can new immigrants really survive in Penang?”

"You said you'll accept everyone who comes. If they can't find a job and start causing trouble, Mr. Zheng, are you planning to use the police? Wouldn't that be a huge problem?"

Zheng Yi: "I admit... regional chambers of commerce do play a positive role in promoting the SAARC. SAARC is a non-state actor and lacks a large administrative body. The chambers of commerce are actually still providing a safety net for ordinary people at the bottom of society. At least in the short term, industrial unions will be difficult to replace."

“I can allocate funds from the treasury…”

Tan Kah Kee interrupted, "No, that's not necessary. As leaders of the overseas Chinese community, we do these things willingly. We've been doing this for a hundred years. We're also willing to spend money to support our fellow countrymen. Money earned should be spent."

"I admit that the major chambers of commerce do have a certain negative impact on the development of the SAARC, and some areas are indeed hindering the development of the SAARC. But I also hope that Mr. Zheng can correctly realize that we still have positive significance and are still an important part of the SAARC."

After saying this, Tan Kah Kee let out a long breath and said, "I agree with your proposal. I am willing to accept surveillance by the Security Bureau. But Mr. Zheng, I hope that when the industrial union is established, I also hope that the contributions we have made to the Southern Alliance will not be forgotten."

Zheng Yi: "Okay, thank you, Mr. Chen. I'll think of a solution. Please believe me, I will treat all the major chambers of commerce fairly. I will never forget your contributions to the Southern Alliance."

(End of this chapter)